Quick release mechanism for continuous casting mold support frame

ABSTRACT

A quick release mechanism for releasably attaching a continuous casting mold oscillating frame to a support. A bolt is fixed to the support and carries a spring and rotatable anchor block between the nut and bolt head, whereby the anchor block can be seated in a recess in the frame by a minimal movement of the nut.

United States Patent 1 Bode, Jr. I

m 3,823,7 1 July 16, 1974 1 1 QUICK RELEASE MECHANISM FOR CONTINUOUS CASTING MOLD SUPPORT FRAME [75] Inventor: Charles H. Bode, Jr., Upper St.

Clair Township, Allegheny County, Pa.

United States Steel Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pa.

[22] Filed: May 7, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 357,765

Related US. Application Data [62] Division of Ser. No. 167,723, July 30, 1971, Pat. No.

[73] Assignee:

[52] US. Cl. 164/273 R, 164/341 [51] Int. Cl B22d 11/00 [58] Field of Search 164/82, 137, 273 R, 283 R, 164/283 M, 339, 341; 249/165, 167

Primary Examiner-R. Spencer Annear, Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Ralph H. Dougherty 157] ABSTRACT A quick release mechanism for releasably attaching a continuous casting mold oscillating frame to a support. A bolt is fixed to the support and carries a spring and rotatable anchor block between the nut and bolt head, whereby the anchor block can be seated in a recess in the frame by a minimal movement of the nut.

5 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures 1 Mi M i 1 i 11 @1111 as ,L 22

PATENTEDJUL x 61924 SHEET 1 OF 3 QUICK RELEASE MECHANISM FOR CONTINUOUS CASTING MOLD SUPPORT FRAME This is a division of application Ser. No. 167,723, filed July 30, 1971 now' US. Pat. No. 3,777,436.

In a conventional continuous casting machine for steel or other metal a tubular flow-through mold is fastened to an oscillator frame or support frame. The oscillator frame itself is releasably attached to a second support frame which is fixed. Whenever it is desired to change a continuous casting mold in order to make repairs or to accommodate a new product size, it is desirable to perform the operation in as short a time as possible. l have invented an inexpensive quick release mechanism which will allow workmen to remove completely a continuous casting mold and oscillator fame in much less time than was heretofore possible by manual devices.

It is the principal object of my invention to provide a bolt and nut mechanism for attaching two objects or members, which mechanism can bereleased without removing the nut from the bolt.

It is another object to provide a means for attaching an oscillator frame-of a continuous casting machine to a mold frame support whereby the frame can be attached or released from the support in a minimum of operating time.

In accordance with my invention, a bolt carries a spring and a rotatable anchor block between the bolt head and nut. The bolt is installed to connect two parts by fixing the bolt head to one part so it cannot turn, while the threaded portion of the bolt extends through the second'part and carries an anchor block having shoulders whereby the block can be seated in a recess in the second part.

My invention can be better understood with reference to the appended drawings in which:

FIG. I is a fragmentary plan view of a mold and oscillator frame.

FIG. 2 is a partially broken away fragmentary elevational view of a mold oscillator frame and an oscillator frame support.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line Illlll of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view of the mold oscillator frame in spaced relation from the mold frame support showing the quick change release mechanism in the release position.

FIGS. 5,6, and 7 are fragmentary elevational views of alternative embodiments of my quick change release mechanism.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 a tubular flow through mold I is fixed to an oscillator frame 12. Frame 12 is releasably attached to mold oscillator frame support 14 by my novel quick release means. There are four such means included in the installation, two at each side of the mold. Since they are all of similar construction, I describe only one in detail. A pair of parallel upstanding ribs 16 are fixed to a bottom plate 17 of mold oscillator frame 12. A bolt 18 is inserted through a hole 19 in top plate 20 of mold oscillator frame support 14 and fixed thereto by welding or some other convenient means. An anchor block 22 is loosely journaled on the bolt. The anchor block has shoulders 23 which engage the top of the spaced parallel upstanding ribs 16 when in the secure or attached position. A spring 26 is mounted on the bolt between the anchor block and the top of the frame support and urges the anchor block upwardlyv at all times. The bolt 18 carries a retaining nut.27 which bears against the top of the anchor block. The nut can be a standard hex nut or, as shown, can be round with small holes around the perimeter of the nut for engagement by a spanner wrench.

In order to remove the oscillating frame from the support, the nut 27 is turned sufficiently to relieve the clamping pressure on anchor block 22 and spring 26, and to provide sufficient clearance between the shoulders on anchor block 22 and the top of upstanding ribs 16. The block is rotated degrees, bringing the long axis parallel to the ribs, and placing the entire anchor block between the ribs. The oscillator frame 12 is then lifted free of the support 14 by any convenient means such as an overhead crane.

To install the oscillator frame on the frame support, the oscillator frame is placed in position over the release nuts and allowed to settle on to the frame. The anchor blocks 22 are each rotated 90 and the nuts 27 are tightened a small amount to move the anchor block downwardly to bear against the upstanding ribs.

- Inthe alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the head of bolt 18 is fixed to the top of top plate 20 of the mold oscillator frame.

In the embodiment of FIG. 6, upstanding ribs 16 are eliminated and one or more leaf springs'26A are substituted for coil spring 26. The leaf spring is fixed to the top of top plate 20 and bears against the underside of anchor block 22 in the same manner as the coil spring. The head of bolt 18 is fixed to the underside of top plate20 by a removable Z-shaped member 30. Member 30 prevents bolt l8from turning when the nut is being turned, and also retains the bolt in position, yet if the threads of the bolt become stripped or the bolt is otherwise damaged, it can readily be removed for replacement.

In the embodiment of FIG. 7, a recess is provided beneath top plate 20 in which to house coil spring 26.

It is apparent that other modifications of my invention are possible within the scope of the appended claims.

From the foregoing it'can readily be seen that I have invented a bolt and nut apparatus that can be released without removing the nut from the bolt. The apparatus will allow a mold and oscillator frame of a continuous casting machine to be quickly removed from a mold frame support as well as allowing such equipment to be quickly placed and tightened into position.

I claim:

1. In a continuous casting machine which includes a tubular mold, a frame supporting said mold, and a mold frame support supporting said frame, said frame having at least a pair of spaced anchor block retaining means fixed thereto adjacent said support, said mold and said frame being removable together from said support by lifting therefrom, the combination therewith of an improvedmeans for releasably attaching said frame to said mold frame support, said means comprising:

a bolt, one end of which is fixed to said mold frame support, the other end of which protrudes between said pair of anchor block retaining means;

an elongated anchor block loosely journaled on said bolt, said block being dimensioned to have a width less than said anchor block retaining means spacing and a length longer than said anchor block retaining means spacing;

spring biasing means mounted between the head of i said bolt and said anchor block and urging said anchor block away from said bolt head;

a retaining nut on said bolt for retaining said anchor block on said bolt between said nut and said mold frame support when said nut is tightened against said anchor block.

2. A combination as defined in claim 1 in which said anchor block retaining means comprises a pair of spaced, parallel ribs.

frame having a rectangular slot therein.

5. A combination as defined in claim 1 in which said spring means comprises a coil spring mounted on the shank of said bolt. 

1. In a continuous casting machine which includes a tubular mold, a frame supporting said mold, and a mold frame support supporting said frame, said frame having at least a pair of spaced anchor block retaining means fixed thereto adjacent said support, said mold and said frame being removable together from said support by lifting therefrom, the combination therewith of an improved means for releasably attaching said frame to said mold frame support, said means comprising: a bolt, one end of which is fixed to said mold frame support, the other end of which protrudes between said pair of anchor block retaining means; an elongated anchor block loosely journaled on said bolt, said block being dimensioned to have a width less than said anchor block retaining means spacing and a length longer than said anchor block retaining means spacing; spring biasing means mounted between the head of said bolt and said anchor block and urging said anchor block away from said bolt head; a retaining nut on said bolt for retaining said anchor block on said bolt between said nut and said mold frame support when said nut is tightened against said anchor block.
 2. A combination as defined in claim 1 in which said anchor block retaining means comprises a pair of spaced, parallel ribs.
 3. A combination as defiNed in claim 1 in which said anchor block includes a pair of opposing steps adapted to be received by said anchor block retaining means.
 4. A combination as defined in claim 1 in which said anchor block retaining means comprises said mold frame having a rectangular slot therein.
 5. A combination as defined in claim 1 in which said spring means comprises a coil spring mounted on the shank of said bolt. 